St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-10-22

now and then to think that they migi
be dead. But we were not in a fran
OF mind TO let sentiment interfere wit
business.
Il suppose We had been there for
couple Of weeks when provisions be
gan tn run short. We didn't want I
both leave the claim at once. 40 il wa
finally arranged that Charley 20 dow
the creek to camp about fifty mile
away and bring a supply. He too
both burrOs and started of. ca.cu
lated it would take him week to max
the trip. and time hung heavy on m,
hands. Itried to work little on tn
shaft. The formation was very hard
and we had rugged up a sort of cross
bar ladder. ] would 60 down this. I'll
the bucket. climb to the surface ant
pull it up.
AT about noon of the second day
after he left was startled At what
thought was = man crossing . little
gulch half mile away. only had $
view of it between two rocks, and what,
ever it was passed 20 quickly that
was not sure. However. I waited fol
. couple Of hours. and then. seeing
nothing further. concluded / was mis-.
taken. and l went down into the shaft.
l filled the bucket with very heavy ore,
climbed up. and had it about hall
raised, when . man came walking up
the creek he'd toward me. Then I knew
that was right before.
HE was an ugly-looking customer.
big and brawny. with fat. Scandina-
vian face. and carried q Winchester on
his arm. l had a little stick that ]
slipped into the windlass handle near
the axle. to keep it from turning back
ward. and. leaving the bucket just
where it was. suspended half way up.
I started toward the cabin to get my
arms. He covered me with his repeat
ing rife and ordered me to halt.
"'What are you doing on my claim:'
he said.
IL reckon you can see.' I replied.
putting as good face on it As I possi-
bly, could.
"'You mean you jumped it. you
cursed thief!'
".No. l don't There wasn't enough
work on it to hold it and it was as
much mine as anybody'A'
"'You lie!'
HE looked at me over the sights
with his wicked greenish eyes for full
, minute. Then he said:
"'Did you ever prayT
eyes faltered.
"'Then pray now. I'll give you two
minutes to do it.
by that time my mind was clear
enough to take in the whole situation.
and had no doubt but he intended to
me then and there. With me
out Of the way there would be no ono
70 testify to the insufficient work. and
| would simply be rcgarded-if the
story of my death was ever tOld-as =
.laim-jumper who had been justly dealt
with. I felt my knees begin to trem-
BE. and tried another rock
".If you kill me- said. my psrtne,
will be back and sec that you hang for
t.
".rl fix your partner the same
way. you claim-jumping cur
True enough. Nothing could be
,asier than to assassinate Burke on his
'eturu, and We had SO jealously guarded
he secret Of our trip that no one would
Know where to search for Us. We
would simply disappear. as hundreds
4 prospectors do. never to he seen by
nen again. and speedily TO be forgot
en-. had no hope Of mercy from the
Instant l looked into that mans cruel
ace. felt. with . sickening qualm
md . wild drumming in my ears. that
nv time had come.
''Oh! for Heavens sake. don't lnur
Ter me" I cried. Twill CO.
The man made no reply. For . mo-
nent my head swan. and then. with .
udden return of vision that was excru-
iating in its clearness. saw him stoop
lightly. rest the gun-barrel over the
and marked even that
light contraction Of the eyelid that
lways just precedes . shot The next
Instant there was . crash. IN explosion
nd cry. all mingled into one. I saw
he man turning head over heels down
he embankment. the Winchester flying
trough the air. and all the while heard
loud. monotonous whirring noise that
1as like some gigantic clock running
own.
Il did not realize it at tho time. but
his is what had happened: When he
ested his gun across the windlass he
ropped The barrel right against the
tile stick I had thrust in to prevent it
,rning. and Knocked it out I sup
ose the bucket of ore weighed $50
ounds. and the great iron handle,
clear around. gained such
.rrific momentum that when it struck
i'm full IN the face, which it did. it
fted him OF his feet like . cannon
ALL The gun was discharged BY the
aock, but the bullet went nowhere
ear me. Before I regained my senses
heard the bucket strike the bottom
'ith smash.
when I picked up the man he was
but moaning . little. and
lood was trickling out Of his earG
lis gun was broken. He lay at the
aLin for = week or two. and after |
harley got back we managed to get
i'm to Silver City. There the doctors
ut his face in . sort Of plaster-of-
aris cast. but although the wound
ealed. he was out Of his head, and
ventually died. The night before he
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